City of Clovis plans extra hours for cannabis sales

Clovis cannabis consumers may soon be allowed to shop later for the product.

Clovis city commission on Thursday tentatively approved a plan for extended hours cannabis businesses can stay open – from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The retailers can continue to open at 9 a.m. and they can still operate daily, assuming the change introduced Thursday is formally adopted at the city’s next meeting in January.

Commissioners approved the new hours by a 7-1 vote with Debbie Zamora opposed and Helen Casaus absent.

Alex Stalker, manager of Clovis’ Cheech & Chong dispensary, addressed commissioners, pointing out hours for alcohol sales are allowed until midnight.

Clovis Police Chief Roy Rice told commissioners officers in his administration did not oppose extending the hours.

Commissioners on Thursday also discussed an ordinance allowing “deli- style” retail cannabis sales in the city’s “commercial general” zones. That issue was tabled.

City Attorney Jared Morris explained to commissioners the change was requested by some Clovis dispensaries.

“Deli style” was described as the consumer choosing how they want the product freshly packaged.

Currently, the city classifies deli style retail sales as including cannabis manufacturing, and therefore it’s not allowed in a commercial general zone.

The proposed ordinance would change the definitions of cannabis retail and cannabis manufacturing such that deli style sales would be allowed in commercial general zones.

Commissioners tabled the request while Morris researches whether new state cannabis regulations have changed in allowing deli style sales.

Also Thursday:

• Commissioners approved new laws and restrictions regarding panhandling in the city.

The new rules were set up as “the City of Clovis bears the responsibility of protecting the general public, to include the regulation and maintenance of its alleys, streets and highways,” according to the agenda packet.

The agenda packet also included the reasoning for the new ordinances, which were introduced Nov. 21.

“Judicial decisions from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit have clarified the

standards by which municipalities may prohibit or regulate solicitation activities that affect traffic or transit,” the packet noted.

The purpose of the new ordinance “is to prevent dangers to persons and property, to prevent traffic delays, and to avoid interference with traffic flow.”

“Aggressive solicitation” is the main target of the new ordinance, city officials have said. That includes trespassing on private property while panhandling, prohibiting stepping into the roadway to solicit or soliciting from medians less than 3 feet wide.

A portion of the wording of the ordinance reads: “The unlawful use of medians and traffic islands presents a danger to the public, including pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.”

• Commissioners approved the sale of the Baxter-Curren Senior Center to the group that operates it.

Morris told commissioners that due to needed repairs and condition, it is more cost effective to sell Baxter-Curren than for the city to continue operating it.

The Baxter-Curren center is in the 900 block of Hickory Street. The city transferred ownership for $100.

Linda Lawson, president of the center, described the deal as “wonderful.”

The agreement does not include the parking lot located to the west of the Baxter-Curren Senior Center.

• Constance Williams and Joyce Pollard appeared before commissioners describing the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast on Jan. 18 and the Martin Luther King Day walk on Jan. 20.